Find Your Trills in MontserratWritten by Jetsetters Magazine
Find Your Thrills in MontserratRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Read this entire feature FREE with photos at http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/Carib02/monts/birds/bird.html Quiet and extraordinarily patient, they endlessly search treetops for a chance to add one more notation on their treasured checklists. For them thrill is never gone AND "trill" part of that delight. Their boundless optimism is forever present. Bird watching for enthusiast (or novice) is a chance not to be missed, and "peer pressure," never a problem. For binocular-carrying visitors who come to laid back island environment of Montserrat, most southerly of Caribbean's Leeward Islands, it's part of a memorable stay. Rare though they may be, part of quest is to see country's national bird, Montserrat oriole, whose distinctive orange and black plumage was once easily seen length and breadth of this 12 miles by 7 miles territory of United Kingdom. Now, due to unfortunate capriciousness of nature, resident population of Icterus oberi has been reduced to a drastic degree, perhaps critically endangered, leaving major habitats only in central and southern forests. One location that draws bird watchers in search of Montserrat Oriole is Centre Hills region with its rain forest and lush vegetation. For determined there is also possibility to glimpse rare Bridled Quail Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) and equally shy Forest Thrush (Cichlherminia lherminieri). More abundant are Mangrove Cuckoo, Purple-Throated Carib and Trembler, to cite a few.
| | The Hajj – Mecca’s Holy Kaaba Written by Edwin Ali
The Hajj – Mecca’s Holy Kaaba Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Read this entire feature FREE with photos at http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/Mideast02/Hajj/hajj.html Hundreds of thousands of Muslims throughout world finalized their plans to make Hajj, Pilgrimage to Mecca, which is incumbent on followers of Islamic faith at least once in their lifetime. More than three million Muslims made trip last year and for each of them experience may differ, but common thread is understanding of humility and sincerity and acceptance of Will of their Creator. Those desiring to make Hajj must obtain a visa from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and this was easily attainable in past years. However, following September 11, Saudi Government has taken certain measures to ensure that those making trip are Muslims, and secondly, that they are devout followers of Islam and have no connection with others who are bent on creating problems for certain countries. Before Sept. 11, devotees wishing to make Hajj would contact various organizations which are involved in making arrangements for annual Pilgrimage. They are required to have six passport-size photos, their passport, and certain vaccinations required by Saudi Goverment. This package is sent to Saudi Embassy in Washington (if eminating from USA, otherwise from other foreign embassies outside Saudia Arabia) and it is processed in just over two weeks. Now, leader of any group making Hajj must TAKE relevant documents first to Saudi Embassy and they are examined in detail and background checks made. The leaders of various groups have to go to Saudi to uplift visas. The Saudi Government is custodian of Islam's Holiest Shrine...the Kaaba, as well as Holy Prophet's Mosque in Medina, but has come in for strong criticism for its support of American backed coalition which was formed to track down Osama Bin Laden and his followers who have been accused of terrorist action which resulted in deaths of some 3,000 individuals, including followers of different faiths and people from a number of different countries including Caribbean. The Pilgrimage represents world's largest single gathering and is not be considered a vacation, as it is for strong and healthy, demanding sacrifice. It demands humility, patience, tolerance and understanding, and above all, it calls for sincerity in whatever one says or does. It also demands total commitment to one's Creator, an unquesionable faith in fulfillment of Hajj as a pillar of Islam, and an acceptance of many challenges, some degree of hardships and possible sickness, as a test of one's moral and religious conviction, but it is generally a happy occasion, an opportunity in a lifetime to meet extended Muslim family and celebrate this grand occasion.
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